thenearshore | [Open] What if we rewrite the stars?

Who: Lavi and You!
When: October 4 - 8 (IC)
Where: Far Shore (mostly). Near Shore.
What: Aftermath of Add things as Lavi checks on his friends, reading and sign language class, and Lavi remembers a demon child from his world.

[A. Lessons for Reading and Signs]

[After finally managing to procure a good place for lessons - he may or may not have snagged a classroom at Hakkai’s school at some point - it was finally time for lessons!]

I. Reading

[For those who wanted assistance in reading, Lavi does have some books piled up on a desktop and he’s looking through a few himself. While some people had shown more interest in sign language, there were still enough people who seemed eager to read as well. The books were all beginner’s level, but there was another pile of books meant for the intermediate level.

He could have just finished helping someone out or waiting for someone to join him.

Either way, Lavi will look up when he hears someone coming in.]

II. Languages

[Languages, languages!

Even if it’s mostly sign languages, in which Lavi had been considerate enough to even make proper notes for the signs and even the alphabet out, all drawn out on the board for people to see.

On the other hand, given Yoon’s own interest in Braille, he has a couple of books for that as well. Digging into the Heaven’s library is taxing, so he took a brief trip to the Near Shore to gather the necessary ones.

He’s even reading something in Braille as he waits for someone to join him.]

[B. The Ghosts Hide in Shadows]

[It’s late into the evenings, but for once, it’s not because Lavi is trying to avoid sleep.

That’s a subject for another time.

Rather, he’s been going around certain temples, such as Nekhbet and Apollo’s temples, mostly to check in on them after whatever happened with Add. Otherwise, he can be seen walking around the Heavens, tracing odd patterns in the air with a finger while having a calculating look on his face.

It’s easy to surprise him like this, but don’t be surprised if he greets you with a hammer to the face.

He’s a little jumpy lately and he’s not afraid to use that hammer of his if he feels the least bit threatened. Unless he recognizes you and then the person is greeted with a smile.]

Evening!

[C. Dreams Become Nightmares]

[He remembers.

It was worse than the other memories he had remembered before, enough to make him remember why exactly he hated sleeping or dreaming in particular. Why he hated it when his dreams were being intruded on, showcasing a part of himself he didn’t even know existed, but it lingered.

Lavi decided: he hates memories.

The echoes of that girl’s laughs haunts him, enough where he’s taken to sneaking out of Cardia’s temple late at night and has taken to hide somewhere or until he finally does feel enough exhaustion to pass out. At this rate, it’s not surprising to see him in the library or at a park or even near a temple he’s visited before. However, he’d usually leave before someone spots him, never really staying at one place and it’s easy enough to see something has made him frightened.

He mumbles to himself, sounding upset and tugs his headband off his head, holding it tightly in his hand while he runs his other hand through his hair.]

Damn Road.

[D. A Walk in Fantasyland - Closed to Ayumu]

[He did promise her a date - or not date. Whatever it’s called.

Since Lavi has grown more familiar with the Near Shore, he opted to take Ayumu around Tokyo first. It’s easy and a little more familiar to him than most places.

So, he waits for her after giving her the time and location, knowing that while he should have gone to pick her up, Lavi actually doesn’t know if she’s still staying with Hakkai or is bunking up somewhere else. Either way, it’s going to be a day for them to hang out and not worry about things like that.]

[E. Wildcard]

[Hit me with a prompt of your own or plot with me at

seabutterfly]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She'd still been very new and getting her bearings back then but by this point, she's managed to settle into her second life. Of course, it's easier to do that now. She hasn't known her new goddess very long but so far, Sanzang's been understanding, kind, and considerate and she's cautiously optimistic that this partnership might work out better.

She certainly looks more relaxed than she's been for quite some time, enough to lean against Lavi a bit.]

You're here with me. It's already a pleasure.

[A blink before he lets out a laugh, gently squeezing her hand.

Then he begins to lead her.]

Quite a charmer, aren't you?

[Ayumu follows with a cheerful expression, chuckling.]

Oh, do you find me charming then, Lavi?

[Is it mock surprise or genuine surprise? Who knows.]

[Lavi flashes her a grin.]

Maybe. You definitely have a way with words.

[Her? Having a way with words? It's a laughable thought to her, considering how much she struggles to think of things to say sometimes.]

I think I just blurt things out and sometimes get lucky, honestly. Most of the time, I never really know what to say. Well, unless it's about cooking. Or strategy. I can't say I'm much of an authority on anything else and even then, my knowledge is limited.

[It's rare she admits to her imperfections. Often it's hard for her to even see them, given her usual aversion toward pondering herself, her actions, or thoughts too deeply. But ever since what had happened with Hakkai, she's been a little more self-reflective and thoughtful about such things.

Whether that's a good development or a bad one has yet to be seen.]

[A glance over at her, lips pressed into a thin line. He seems almost contemplative, trying to figure something out about what she's told him, but doesn't give an insight as to what it is.]

Probably just luck then.

[He says simply, shifting his eye away.] Besides, trying to figure out what to say at times can either lead to some awkward confrontations or maybe something even bad in the end. Then again, anything dealing with emotions seems to be that troublesome.

They do tend to complicate things, don't they? Feelings are just so messy and confusing! I like things to be neater and simpler than that, I think.

[She sighs.]

I barely even know myself most days, much less how to respond to others when they're hurting and upset. I try my best but it's just hard. I guess I just don't see or feel things the way other people do.

[But it doesn't mean she doesn't want or need to be with other people. She gets lonely and feels the need to belong, the same as anyone else.]

Being blunt definitely is a lot easier. People also don't appreciate it.

[He would know. He hangs around a guy who's pretty blunt himself.

Lavi blinks once and gently squeezes her hand.]

That makes two of us. Sympathizing with others - trying to understand how to react to them when they're hurting. It's difficult.

[It's nice, not being alone with this confusion. Maybe she's broken in some way, maybe they both are but it's easier to cope with someone than by herself. Ayumu leans her cheek against his arm in brief, sort of nuzzle and squeezes his hand back.]

It is. I try to have a gentle touch when I can but I'm just so clumsy with feelings.

[It's a little liberating, talking openly like this. Not the most natural act for her to do but she'd made a mess of things with Hakkai doing what felt right to her so maybe her way had been wrong and she should try something new.]

And I've noticed that, too. But it's hard to choose softer words when you don't seem to know any.

[Sometimes she wonders what that says about her and the life she'd lived before coming here. She doesn't seem to be particularly delicate or ladylike and she's not sure she likes that about herself.]

[That hits a little too close to home and he can't resist the initial urge to turn his head, bending down a bit to place his head on top of hers briefly. Then he pulls back and grins.]

Well, that's fine! The two of us can figure it out together.

[It's easier to work this out with someone who's in the same boat as he is. It's...comforting.]

[Her expression is serious and thoughtful in contrast to his grin for a moment but quickly relaxes into a smile.]

I'd like that.

[It's different but given how violently she finds herself reacting to any kind of closeness with other people, it feels like she must've spent a lot of time alone. The brief snippet of memory she'd recovered hadn't told her very much at all and she knows better than to dwell on it too much. Maybe this - whatever this is - will be good for them both.

Lavi's presence is comforting. She doesn't understand what could have happened to leave her full of so much inconsolable rage and grief but the dark cloud it's cast over her as slowly but steadily begun to recede.]

It's an awful lot of weight to bear alone.

[And as troubled as Ayumu's prone to being, she certainly doesn't have any intention of leaving Lavi to hang out to dry. If there's anything she can do to help and support him, it'd make her happy to do so.]

[Lavi leans close, bending down enough so that their foreheads are touching. It's merely a short gesture, a brief contact, but enough for her to know that he won't let her go on with this alone.

With the two of them? It'd be nice to figure things out together.

Besides, Lavi might need her support the same way she'll need his.

So, with a smile, he pulls back and resumes walking with her.]

Well, good thing you've got me, yeah?

[The contact, closeness, and reassurance are all very nice. Her expression softens considerably and she leans on him again, a rare, genuinely happy smile surfacing. Lavi's so good to her and for a change, she feels lucky.]

That's a very good thing.

[Whatever this is between them, she's very glad to have it.]

And you're gonna be stuck with me.

[He gives her hand a gentle squeeze.]

Now, since we're here, wanna get something to eat first?

Sure. What are you in the mood for?

[Sometimes it's a refreshing change to eat someone else's cooking. Though really she's fine going anywhere. Being stuck with Lavi is hardly a terrible fate.]

I don't know of many restaurants here, I'm afraid. There's this sidewalk cafe Hakkai took me to for breakfast once but that's about all I know.

[Well, other than her workplace which isn't really the type of place Ayumu would want to go for a date.]

Well, have you ever tried sushi?

[Lavi does have quite a habit of using shrines to get around the Near Shore to explore.

Don't tell anyone, Ayumu.]

I have, actually. I make it all the time but I don't mind trying someone else's if there's a place you wanna go.

[Your secrets are safe with her, Lavi.]

[Open] What if we rewrite the stars?

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